By JAVIER MANJARRES

Sen. Marco Rubio (Shark Tank Media)

The immigration reform debate has entered into new and potentially dangerous waters, as the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have “forged an agreement in principle to develop a new type of employer visa system.”

Details of the deal have not been disclosed, but Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer was on the call between the two parties, and helped broker the agreement. Nothing good ever really comes out of what Schumer proposes, or sticks his nose into.

 But not Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who heads the immigration reform “Gang of 8” in the U.S. Senate, responsible for starting the discussion about writing a new immigration bill, says he is “encouraged by  the reports of an agreement between business groups and unions on the issue of guest workers.” However, Rubio continues to insist that any talk of a legislative bill proposal is “premature.”


 While Rubio’s bipartisan Senate group’s “statement of principles” states that a pathway to citizenship will not be offered to illegal immigrants if the border is not first secured, Rubio fails to mention what constitutes a “secured” border.

 Many of Rubio’s critics and supporters are on edge as to what this immigration bill will look like after the dust settles, and wait to see if Rubio immigration roll of the dice will  nudge him to flip-flop on his position of not supporting amnesty for illegal aliens. 

 “I’m encouraged by reports of an agreement between business groups and unions on the issue of guest workers. However, reports that the bipartisan group of eight senators have agreed on a legislative proposal are premature.

 “We have made substantial progress, and I believe we will be able to agree on a legislative proposal that modernizes our legal immigration system, improves border security and enforcement and allows those here illegally to earn the chance to one day apply for permanent residency contingent upon certain triggers being met. However, that legislation will only be a starting point.

 “We will need a healthy public debate that includes committee hearings and the opportunity for other senators to improve our legislation with their own amendments. Eight senators from seven states have worked on this bill to serve as a starting point for discussion about fixing our broken immigration system. But arriving at a final product will require it to be properly submitted for the American people’s consideration, through the other 92 senators from 43 states that weren’t part of this initial drafting process. In order to succeed, this process cannot be rushed or done in secret.”-Senator Marco Rubio

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